InfraStructures - February 2016 - Full Suspension Hauler Makes Good Impression on Italian Quarry

Full Suspension Hauler Makes Good Impression on Italian Quarry

Set between the city of Milan, Italy, and the border of Switzerland is Cucciago, a village with a population of about 3,000. Dominating its 5 km² is a 350,000 m² quarry – the largest in the province. Boasting an ancient history, its geology can be traced to the great Alpine glaciers, which, on several occasions over the last 5 million years have descended the valleys of Lake Como, forming the layers of sediment that are visible today.

The quarry’s most recent history, spanning the last 50 years, has been carved out by quarrying company Italcave. As with all quarrying operations, productivity weighs heavily on profitability.

To increase its efficiency and operator comfort, while at the same time reducing machine maintenance costs, Italcave has looked to Volvo CE for support. Having already acquired a dozen Volvo CE machines, the company added its 3rd articulated hauler – the Volvo A40F-FS – to its fleet.

“Since establishing our partnership with Volvo CE Italy many years ago, we’ve continually added more machines to our growing fleet,” says the company’s Dr. Sergio Pines. “As soon as we heard about the Volvo A40F-FS articulated hauler’s availability, equipped with Full Suspension (FS), we decided to do more research. Our findings, coupled with the respect that we have for operator comfort and its impact on jobsite productivity, convinced us to purchase the machine.”

Italcave provides complete solutions for the excavation, production and supply of sand and gravel, as well as filling, demolition, transportation of materials and recovery of demolition materials in Cucciago and the wider region. The company also deals with the manufacture and sale of ready-mixed cement, produced from quarry aggregates in its onsite plant. The facility is also used to process and recycle demolition materials for civil, industrial and road construction.

The A40F-FS articulated hauler is fitted with a full suspension, offering enhanced stability for higher average speeds, leading to shorter cycle times and increased productivity on the quarry’s tough terrain.

“We’re very pleased with how the fully hydraulic suspension system stabilizes the machine, adapting well to the bumpy terrain and steep inclines, all to the benefit of our backs!,” says Italcave operator, Giuliano Frison.

The machine also features self-compensating, hydro-mechanical steering, providing a short turning radius and improved maneuverability, offering the operator equal measures of comfort and precision.

The hauler is designed to work in harmony with its purpose built Volvo D16 V-ACT engine, transmission and axles. These features, when combined, contribute to greater fuel efficiency, higher productivity and speed of response. The electronically controlled 6-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine complies with Tier 4i emission standards and is optimized to help the hauler achieve maximum performance on the quarry’s often challenging terrain, boosting productivity.

Additionally, driveshafts, planetary gears and bearings are reinforced to withstand higher torque, making the fully automatic transmission a perfect match for the heavy-duty engines.

Not only are they built in a CO₂ neutral factory, the FS full suspension articulated haulers are also more environmentally-friendly and efficient than their E-series predecessors.

Maintenance is simple and easy, thanks to a front folding grille that doubles as a service platform with anti-slip steps. The engine cover can tilt up to 90° to facilitate access to the engine compartment, making reaching for service points, changing filters and cleaning the cooling package quicker and easier. Without requiring daily or weekly greasing, the machine is easier to maintain and ensures maximum uptime.

Source: Volvo Construction Equipment

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